Abstract：There are three Chongzhen versions of The Golden Lotus in terms of book marking: Japanese version mainly with three-line notes,Peking University version mainly with four-line notes and Tianjin version with both two-line and four-line notes. Study on the chronological order of the three versions can help to discover their connection in terms of inheritance,original version and time of issuing. Through the comparison of such items as preface,postscript,illustrations,chapter titles,scroll inscriptions,book marking,side-margin remarks,words in the body and missing pages of Japanese version,we argue that both Japanese version and Peking University version originate from the same parent version with 28 words in a line and 11 lines on each page,and Japanese version carries this rule on while Peking University version changes it to 22 words in a line and 10 lines on each page; Tianjin version develops from Peking University version and changes the title of the first chapter from “dixiong” to “xiongdi”( both refers to brothers).

Keyword：The Golden Lotus;Chongzhen versions;Japanese version;Peking University version;Tianjin version;